Chelsea are willing to fork out €50 million as they look to beat West Ham United to the signature of Barcelona midfield sensation Marc Casado.
According to a report from Fichajes, Chelsea are keen on acquiring the services of Marc Casado, and they are ready to spend €50 million to sign the Barcelona academy graduate. While the Catalan giants consider him an integral part of their plans, their financial situation could open the door for a potential exit.
Casado has come up the ranks at La Masia and has been a part of Barcelona’s first team since last summer. The 21-year-old defensive midfielder was involved in a total of 36 games in his debut campaign and contributed towards seven goals before a ligament injury kept him on the sidelines during the final phase of the season.
He is highly rated within the club, and Hansi Flick sees the 21-year-old as an integral part of his plans moving forward. While Barcelona initially had no intention of negotiating his departure, Chelsea’s strong interest and the Catalan club’s financial situation could change things.
Chelsea are ready to fork out a big fee for Marc Casado
The Blues are constantly on the lookout for young players with huge potential as they aim to build a long-term project, and Casado is seen as an ideal fit. They are reportedly prepared to pay €50 million to push a deal through.
A bid of that magnitude from the London club would certainly tempt Barcelona, who urgently need funds to register several players for the new season. The sporting directors believe that his sale could immediately ease financial pressures, but Flick has made it clear that Casado is central to his project and losing him would represent a significant sporting setback.
West Ham are also in the mix for Casado’s signature
Apart from the Blues, West Ham United are also keen on his signature, as reported by The Marca. The Hammers are closely monitoring his situation, and if Barcelona open the door for his departure, they could certainly try their luck.
The report suggests they could make an offer close to €30 million, but Chelsea seem to have already overtaken them as they are ready to fork out a much bigger fee. The Hammers will struggle to compete with the Blues’ financial might, even if they do decide to go ahead and make a move.
Meanwhile, a potential transfer depends on Barcelona as well as the player. Even if the Catalan giants are ready to sell, Casado might not be willing to leave his dream club.